Explore 29 Gems and jewels Collections - Atlas Obscura
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Gems and Jewels

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A single garnet gleams on the muddy foreshore of the River Thames.
archaeology

The Curious Gems of the River Thames

London's riverbanks are filled with treasures, including scores of deep red garnets with mysterious origins.
Ellery Weil January 7, 2025
Saint Maries, Idaho

Emerald Creek Garnet Area

Star garnets are so rare that you can only find them in two places on Earth—here, you can dig for them.
An 18th-century depiction of the <em>tsuchinoko</em>, also called <em>bachi hebi</em>, a snake-like Japanese cryptid.
music

Wonder Is Everywhere: A Jumping Japanese Cryptid, Ancient Amazonian Cities, and More From Around the Web

Get a peek into what we’re obsessed with right now.
April White February 2, 2024
Goldfield, Nevada

Gemfield

One of the best places to dig—some say on the planet—for six different types of chalcedony.
Iridescent green figeater beetles (Cotinis mutabilis) have long been used as adornments in cultures around the world.
archaeology

Were These Beetles Once as Valuable as Gemstones?

Archaeologists believe jewelry made from the bugs was a coveted status symbol 2,000 years ago.
Shoshi Parks March 23, 2023
Robert the Doll has inspired a horror movie and regularly gets letters from those who fear they have offended the vindictive toy.
paintings

6 Cursed Objects, and the Legends Behind Them

Maybe it's best to just steer clear of white lighters, medieval books, and Robert the Doll.
April White October 26, 2022
A 40-foot column supports the entrance to New Hampshire's Ruggles Mine, a beloved rockhounding site for decades.
tunnels

Could This Be The End of a Historic New Hampshire Rockhound Paradise?

When Ruggles Mine went up for auction, mineral collectors feared it would never reopen to the public. After a last-minute reprieve, its future is still uncertain.
Sarah Durn July 1, 2022
Surf's up—or not—in this microscopic view of a prase opal gemstone.
mines

This Rugged Coastline Is Not What It Seems

An avid microscopist captured an unusual image that has nothing to do with surf and sand.
Gemma Tarlach May 26, 2021
Many people in Piedra Parada mine amethysts for sale to visitors and dealers.
mines

The Mexican Mountain Town Feeding the International Crystal Market

In Piedra Parada, amethysts are everywhere.
Dylan Taylor-Lehman May 18, 2021
Quartzsite's camel sculpture.
Quartzsite, Arizona

The Red Ghost of Quartzsite

A scrap-metal sculpture recalls an infamous 19th-century camel.
Flora, Mississippi

Mississippi Petrified Forest

A preserved stretch of ancient fossilized trees with an impressive gem collection to boot.
The house.
Murfreesboro, Arkansas

Mauney House and Mine

The remains of the first public diamond mine in Arkansas.
Rice Museum Main Gallery
Hillsboro, Oregon

Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals

A midcentury ranch house hides a literal treasure trove of unique rocks and minerals.
Art and Architecture
Clarkdale, Arizona

Arizona Copper Art Museum

The state's only comprehensive museum dedicated to the mineral that defined its history and economy.
Kyaukse, Myanmar

Werawsana Jade Pagoda

The tower claims to be the world's only pagoda made entirely from Myanmar's lucrative gemstone.
Memphis, Tennessee

Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art

The "Jade Museum" is full of thousands of intricately carved works of art made from various precious stones.
The ruins of MV Creteblock.
Whitby, England

Wreck of the MV Creteblock

The remains of the concrete ship can be seen during low tide.
The Gold Souk, Dubai.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai Gold Souk

On any given day this sprawling market houses literally tons of government-regulated gold, gems, and precious metals.